Eleanor Roosevelt: First Lady, League Leader, Pioneer

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“I’ve always found that the best workers in a political party frequently are graduates of the League of Women Voters” – Eleanor Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884 -1962) is commonly hailed as one of the most influential American women of the 20th century. In addition to serving as the First Lady of the United States from 1933-1945, she was a newspaper columnist, an author, a diplomat and a seasoned politician. She was also a formative leader of the League of Women Voters.

Eleanor Roosevelt’s work to empower women’s participation as voters and political leaders only strengthened after her husband assumed the presidency in 1933. She consistently campaigned for the Roosevelt administration to hire women for executive level appointments, supported anti-lynching campaigns and fought for fair housing for minorities. Throughout these efforts, she held press conferences to inform women voters, including urging them to speak their minds and engage on policy issues.

Decades after her death, she continues to epitomize the powerful role that women, including League members, have played – and continue to play – in furthering equality, strengthening our government and Making Democracy Work®.